Seven ambitious brothers and how they bred a race of kings / editor: Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D.

Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Seven ambitious brothers and how they bred a race of kings / editor: Henry Smith Williams, M.D., LL.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/32 page 26
    in your family, it would be unwise for you to marry a cousin, although such a union might otherwise be not undesirable. The same objection applies to the union of individuals who have the same defect. Thus it appears that the new knowledge of heredity does not necessarily tell whom you should not marry. It is believed that a knowledge of Mendelian heredity will serve as a guide to in- telligent couples in future, and that the happiness of the individual and the welfare of the race will thereby be vastly enhanced. A fuller treatment of this aspect of the subject wil of course be given in a later monograph of the present series. NURTURE VERSUS NATURE While important benefits for the race may thus be expected to accrue from the application of the laws of heredity, it will still remain true that environment must have a large share in deter- mining the ultimate fate of the individual, and hence in gauging the average status of the race. As to this aspect of the subject, the experience of the plant breeder speaks in unmistakable terms. It is certain that the possibilities of any given in- dividual are predetermined before the birth of that individual. ‘This is true of every living thing, be it plant or animal or man. But it is also true that [26 ]
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3